Chapter 298 Let's talk about it after you've completed the great unification!

A sudden explosion swept across the seabed.

Countless dense, black, electric-current-like spatial rifts instantly formed around the island base.

Space and time seemed to distort in that instant.

The violent, abnormal energy spread at the speed of light, sweeping across and disrupting the global energy field.

Almost simultaneously, the base where Ning Jinli was located also experienced a violent tremor of unknown origin, seemingly indicating an explosion somewhere within the base.

"Run!" Ning Jinli shouted.

The researchers were terrified and rushed into the portal one after another as fast as they could.

However, when they passed through the portal and arrived on the other side, they were surprised to find that they were not in the warehouse they had seen before, but in an ancient-style temple.

The surrounding space was very large; even with nearly four hundred researchers standing together, it wasn't crowded.

"Such a thriving incense offering..."

What kind of temple is this?

"Huh? It seems there's only one deity worshipped. Look, it's a goddess."

Everyone's attention was quickly drawn to the goddess sculpture against the wall; at first glance, it seemed somewhat familiar...

At the same time, Ning Jinli noticed something amiss.

The portal she opened, which was supposed to connect to the factory's small warehouse on the other end, now appears through the fluorescent vortex to the Fairy Temple in Linxian City!

That's right, that's the Jinli Fairy Temple that the local people built for her in the cave where she first appeared.

The tremors at the base are still ongoing.

However, no one panicked and waited for the rescue team's next steps.

The rescue team was waiting for Ning Jinli to give the order.

Ning Jinli quickly thought for a moment and said to the rescue team leader, "There seems to be a problem with the connection of the time portal. I'll go over there for a bit and come right back."

After saying that, she rushed into the portal.

In the blink of an eye, we arrived at the Fairy Temple.

During the rescue operation at the Kutcherberg nuclear power plant ruins, she accidentally entered the connecting area in the middle of the time portal.

She also saw that there were energy channels connecting each of the spacetime portals.

Therefore, the misalignment of the spacetime portal this time should also be due to the influence of abnormal energy, to the point that even she is unable to move the spacetime channel back.

"Who are you people!" The guards at the Fairy Temple quickly discovered the many uninvited guests inside.

The researchers were still in a daze.

Ning Jinli quickly made her way through the crowd and stood before the soldiers.

"Ah! Fairy Jinli!" the soldiers exclaimed.

"Fairy, it's been quite a long time since you last visited! The soldiers and the people have missed you terribly!"

"Fairy, His Majesty—"

The soldiers were all talking at once.

Ning Jinli didn't have time to say anything else to them and immediately said, "These people are all people I brought, and they are all very, very important people! You should escort them and arrange for them to rest first. You must ensure their safety and there can be no mistakes!"

Everyone here obeys Ning Jinli's orders unconditionally.

Without asking any further questions, the soldiers began their operation.

Ning Jinli also told the researchers to stay there without worry, and that she would bring them back after she understood the situation.

After arranging these things, Ning Jinli turned around and wanted to return to the safe zone of the base.

She planned to transfer the rest of the people to Linxian City as well. Although the space-time gate was misaligned and they couldn't be transferred to Xinghan City immediately, transferring them here was still an option.

"Ning Jinli!" Suddenly, a deep voice rang out.

Ning Jinli paused, turned around hastily, and instantly met Xiao Qidi's cold eyes.

“Qi…” Ning Jinli’s lips parted slightly, her expression one of astonishment.

Xiao Qidi stepped forward and grabbed her shoulder. "You've finally decided to come see me?"

"Huh? What are you talking about?" Ning Jinli was completely bewildered.

Despite his best efforts to control his emotions, Xiao Qidi's emotions still leaked out from his seemingly cold eyes.

He rode tirelessly from the capital to Linxian City, hoping to run into Ning Jinli. So much so that after arriving, he simply stayed near the Fairy Temple.

Therefore, when a large group of people suddenly appeared in the Fairy Temple, and then a soldier reported the situation to him, he was able to appear in front of Ning Jinli so quickly.

"Jinli, I..." Xiao Qidi had so much to say, but it all got stuck in his throat.

Ning Jinli hurriedly pushed his hand away, "I'm busy! Don't cause trouble!"

Xiao Qidi froze, and the little flame in his heart that had been rising stronger the more he tried to suppress it suddenly felt as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over it.

"Ning Jinli!" Xiao Qidi's eyes reddened as he gritted his teeth and said, "I'll just ask you one question: will you marry me or not!"

Ning Jinli's mind was filled with thoughts of the thousands of people who were still in danger, so she had no time to think about such things. She casually said, "Let's talk about it after you've completed the unification of China!" Then she rushed into the portal without looking back.

As Xiao Qidi watched her figure disappear through the fluorescent vortex, before he could even think, his legs had already started moving, and he instinctively wanted to chase after her.

But in an instant, the portal disappeared.

Xiao Qidi was left standing there dumbfounded.

"Come on! Everyone, go through this portal!" Ning Jinli shouted after returning to the base's safe zone.

“Miss Ning…” The rescue team leader patted her on the shoulder, gesturing for her to look back.

Ning Jinli turned around and was stunned.

She clearly didn't do anything, yet the portal... just vanished on its own?!

This is the first time we've ever seen anything like this!

Needless to say, it must be related to the influence of abnormal energy.

The good deed done by Country M not only affected the global energy field, but also caused various distortions in the spacetime portal she opened.

Ning Jinli took a deep breath, circulated her internal energy, and attempted to open another portal to space and time.

Just then, a piercing alarm sounded within the safe zone.

Everyone's expression changed drastically upon hearing this voice.

Swish—

A fluorescent vortex reappeared in front of Ning Jinli, indicating that the area opposite her was her factory's small warehouse.

"Everyone! It's ready!" Ning Jinli called out loudly, "While the spacetime passage is still relatively stable, let's hurry over!"

However, the people who had already lined up did not move an inch.

Ning Jinli exclaimed in surprise, "What's wrong with you all? The alarm's going off! Hurry up!"

The commander of the special forces protection regiment walked up to her, his expression extremely solemn. "Miss Ning, that alarm just now means that the largest nuclear reactor in this base has experienced a Level 1 accident."

Ning Jinli exclaimed in alarm, "Then we can't afford to waste any more time! Let's go!"

“Miss Ning,” the rescue team leader began, “if this situation didn’t exist, we could leave, but now, we can’t leave.”

"Huh? Why...why?" Ning Jinli looked bewildered.

The commander calmly said, "A Level 1 accident means that if it is not dealt with in time, there will be a serious nuclear leak or even a massive explosion. Given the nuclear energy capacity of this base, it is enough to turn our entire Northwest region into a no-man's land. That would be the most serious accident in human history, a thousand times more serious than the nuclear power plant explosion that destroyed the town of Kutcherberg."

Ning Jinli felt a chill run down her spine. "So, what you mean is..."

The rescue team leader nodded. "We must stay here to handle the emergency. Although we can't control the accident, we should be able to slow it down to the point where it gets completely out of control."

“You…” Ning Jinli’s eyes widened as she looked at the densely packed four thousand-plus people around her. “Where are they? Could it be that they also…”

The regimental commander said, "Don't underestimate them just because they are logistics workers and special forces responsible for protection. They just can't compare with those hundreds of top researchers in various cutting-edge scientific fields. But if they were to devote themselves to other scientific research industries, each of them would be a capable individual. Moreover, they know every single screw in the base like the back of their hand."

The meaning of these words is quite clear: everyone will stay behind to deal with any sudden Level 1 incident.

It goes without saying that staying behind is basically throwing your life to the wind.

Everyone present knew this, yet no one showed any fear.

“Miss Ning,” the rescue team leader said, “after you leave here, please inform General Shangguan of the situation as soon as possible. As long as we can control the destructive impact of the accident in the end, our efforts will not have been in vain.”

The regimental commander raised an eyebrow. "Hmm? You guys are staying too?"

The rescue team leader grinned. "What, you look down on my rescue team?"

"Get out of here!" The battalion commander punched him on the shoulder. "Do you think you know more about dealing with nuclear accidents than we do? Take your men and get out of here! Don't get in the way!"

The rescue team leader retaliated with a punch, "Do you think those who become special rescue soldiers are just sitting around doing nothing? You guys can risk your lives to deal with accidents, so can we! Stop your damn nonsense! Get moving!"

The commander was silent for two seconds, his eyes reddening, then he smiled and said, "Alright, if we survive, I'll buy you a drink!"

"It's a deal!" The rescue team leader's eyes also reddened as he extended his right hand. "I want the best wine! And I have to treat everyone here to a drink!"

The commander gripped his hand tightly. "Okay, it's a deal!"

The two clasped hands tightly and looked at Ning Jinli in unison, their eyes telling her that it was time for her to leave.

Ning Jinli knew they had made their decision. Even though her heart ached terribly, she could only nod with a heavy heart and resolutely step into the portal of time and space.

Now, the portal to time and space that she opened is visible to everyone.

This also means that any substance can pass through it.

To prevent destructive nuclear energy from rushing through this spacetime portal in the event of an explosion at the base, Ning Jinli gritted her teeth and shut it down.

He then immediately called Shangguan Ying to inform her of the situation.

Less than ten minutes after the call was made, the highest level of emergency response was initiated.

Despite the current disruption to the global energy field, which increases the likelihood of unpredictable malfunctions as aircraft approach areas with nuclear facilities, the top leadership still dispatched a large fleet of aircraft, carrying batches of people and equipment, to speed towards the depths of the desert…

...

Ning Jinli sat in the small warehouse, holding her phone.

Every second felt longer and more agonizing than a century to her.

According to the records.

The Kurtenberg nuclear power plant accident, which occurred decades ago in a European country, is the worst nuclear accident in human history to date.

At the time of the incident, dozens of people died on the spot due to massive radiation exposure, and hundreds of thousands of people participated in the rescue efforts. More than 10,000 of them died from excessive radiation exposure within just five years after the accident.

In addition, countless other residents were also exposed to nuclear radiation. The number of people who were directly or indirectly injured or killed by that accident is too large to count.

The town where the Kutcherberg nuclear power plant is located remains a no-go zone for humans.

Based on these circumstances, and recalling what the commander had said, Ning Jinli dared not imagine what it would be like if this accident had not been controlled in time, resulting in an accident a thousand times more serious than the Kutcherberg nuclear power plant explosion…

Half an hour later.

Ning Jinli was startled back to reality by her phone vibrating. Seeing that it was Shangguan Ying calling, she immediately answered, "Sister Ying! How is it? Is there anything I can do to help?!"

“We have mobilized as much manpower and resources as possible to try to prevent the damage caused by the accident from escalating…” Shangguan Ying’s tone was particularly heavy, “but this situation is too special, which has greatly restricted our rescue operations. I don’t know what the situation is like now.”

These words left Ning Jinli with a feeling of utter helplessness, as if she were falling into an abyss.

Then Shangguan Ying continued, "We have just confirmed that the situation occurred at the M country's island base, which has affected us. We put extreme pressure on the M country's high-ranking officials, and they finally revealed a little bit of the truth."

Ning Jinli was on edge and asked, "What's going on?"

Shangguan Ying's tone was icy, filled with gritted teeth, "Country M admitted that they were conducting experiments in the Pacific, but refused to say what kind of experiments they were. In addition, they also said that this situation was beyond their expectations, and it seems that a small overload failure caused a chain reaction, which led to their energy station going out of control and a large amount of energy continuously leaking out."

Ning Jinli sighed, "The US... what they said is like saying nothing at all. Now that there are already big problems, can't they just stop the experiment?"

“It’s not going to stop,” Shangguan Ying said, barely suppressing her anger. “The M country’s high-ranking officials are even asking us for help to control the island base problem. According to them, a kind of high-energy field they’ve never seen before has appeared around the entire island base. Their warships were instantly pulverized by the energy field as soon as they got close. They’ve also lost contact with tens of thousands of people on the island base. Now… that island in the center of the Pacific Ocean may be brewing a huge disaster that could bring about the end of all mankind… I never thought that the situation we were worried about not long ago would become a reality.”

Ning Jinli was both shocked and furious. The United States has always acted arbitrarily and recklessly, which is a consensus among countries around the world. However, she never expected that it could become so chaotic.

"Sister Ying..." Ning Jinli's voice trembled slightly with anger, "Are we now simultaneously trying to control the accident ourselves while... and also having to clean up the mess for the US?!"